I got a message this morning that my dad has come down with COVID. His first case. Luckily he's been 100% vaccinated. But while on the road to Texas to visit a friend, seeing the south west, as he travelled the roads of this amazing country with his van, he came down with the virus. I've never had COVID so I don't know what he's going through, but from the hospital he called me and we talked and he sounded good, just like he always does. He's strong and not frail, never was otherwise.
He's in a hospital now and he's doing fine. We'll find out soon if he is able to be released. I spoke with him this morning and he sounded good.
He's 77 years old. He's retired, formerly a machinist of extraordinary skill and he's also a veteran of the Vietnam conflict (two tours 1965-1967) . Here he is at age 19, on board the USS Hopewell in the middle of his tours. Navy, petty officer 2nd class. Enlisted at 17, and when he graduated from Franklin High School in Seattle, he went to Seal Beach for training and then off to Vietnam. That was 1965. He worked mostly on PT-boat patrol then shore patrol on the USS Hopewell. He saw action.
My son Nick is 20 and would have been older than my dad in this picture. I don't think I can imagine my son being in harms way like this. At 18, I was off to Alaska to work crab and salmon boats in the Bering Sea, Cook Inlet, and throughout the Gulf of Alaska, but nothing as dangerous as this here despite being at sea.
His generation didn't complain. His generation worked hard and did amazing things. And, as a kid growing up around him, I was always exposed to the most interesting technology -- machine work, electronics, and the 'we can do this' mentality.
To those who have family of this generation, you're lucky. We're lucky to still have John (my dad). And when he gets out of Texas and back to the Pacific Northwest, he will continue to work on his projects, tool-making, and add the enhancements to the "van" that he is building out from the inside.
I borrowed it when I went to Visalia this year for the DX Convention. I've posted pictures of it here. (the picture below was when I camped at Pyramid Lake recreation area before I looped back to Visalia. I was visiting XYL's family in southern California on route to Visalia, 2023)
Parting message? Call your dad, or call your Uncle. Father's day is approaching. You have close friends who would love to hear from you. And that means taking a break from the radio. That's fine.
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